Compact ski carrier

ABSTRACT

A ski gear carrier which enables the carrying of the skis and poles in various positions and the dragging of the skis and poles on different surfaces.

This Application claims priority as a Continuation-in-Part Application from PCT Application No. PCT/IL2008/000937, filed on Jul. 9 2008, which claims priority from Israel Application No. 184511, filed on Jul. 10 2007, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a device for carrying skis and poles, and more particularly, relates to a personal ski gear (and poles) carrier with a removable wheel assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Skiing as a recreational sport has become increasingly popular worldwide. Millions of ski enthusiasts travel long distances annually to world-renowned ski resorts. Most skiers carry heavy ski equipment while wearing ski boots when walking to the ski site. This may cause considerable discomfort to the skier as well as endangering people around him. This situation has created the need for a compact ski gear carrier product to carry the ski equipment more easily and safely inside the ski site.

There are several types of ski gear carriers on the market, some of which have been patented. Most of these products have numerous shortcomings and are a source of discomfort to the skier. Large ski bags are used mostly for carrying skiers' personal gear from home to the ski site. Their size creates a storage problem at the ski site, causing considerable discomfort for the skier. Short straps have numerous drawbacks, primarily with the two unstable connecting points to the gear as well as with the bindings that tend to hit against the skier3 s thigh. Carrying the gear on the back via backpack is uncomfortable, as is taking it on and off. Carrying the gear is uncomfortable, since the gear is not stable and tends to tire quickly the skier. Wheel devices are limited to flat geographic areas. Physical conditions within any terrain may change and, thus prevent skiers from wheeling their gear or carrying it on their shoulder in a comfortable manner.

PCT application WO 2004/087269 teaches an assembly for the carrying the skis across a surface. This assembly does not teach or suggest how to carry the skis on the shoulder, when dragging is not convenient, nor does it teach how to remove the wheels when there is no need for the wheels.

United Kingdom Patent GB 2 331 695 teaches a ski gear carrier with two short sleeves, however this disclosure does not suggest wheels. Since the sleeves are tightened to the skis by tightening both edges of the sleeve, adding wheels would prevent the equal tightening of both strip when carrying the skis and thus, would cause the back sleeves to be released from the ski.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The background art does not teach or suggest a ski gear carrier, which enables the carrying of skis either by using a strap or by dragging the skis on wheels, nor does it suggests how to drag the skis on different terrains or how to carry the skis in different positions.

The present invention overcomes these deficiencies of the background art by providing a ski gear carrier, which enables the carrying of the skis in various positions and the dragging of the skis on different surfaces.

According to one embodiment, the ski gear carrier preferably has two short sleeves that are connected to the two edges of the ski gear and enable the carrying of the skis together. According to this embodiment, the ski sleeves are connected with a strap, which can be adjusted to the ski size to ensure the tightening of the sleeves to the skis.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ski gear carrier has a wheel assembly, which enables skiers to wheel or carry their ski gear via multiple carrying options. Such options include but not limited to wheeling the gear on the wheels by wearing the carrying strap on the shoulder; wheeling the gear on the wheels by pulling the gear with a short strap or carrying the gear on either shoulders when the terrain doesn't enable the bag to be wheeled. The wheel assembly is folded and has one or more wheels and preferably two independent wheels, which reduce the weight of the gear when wheeled by the skier. The wheel assembly provides stability and efficiency when wheeling the gear on different terrains. The wheel assembly can be removed in areas where wheeling the gear is not an option. The wheel assembly can be made in different ways, for example the wheel assembly can be made as an axis with one or more and preferably two wheels or as a rigid palette (made of rigid material like plastic or metal) with one or more and preferably two independent wheels. The wheels can be installed with a device that enables them to be open or closed according to the skier needs (horizontal or vertical position to the back sleeve). The removable wheel assembly is attached to the back sleeve for example with Velcro tape or any other suitable fastener, and can be removed from the back sleeve according to the skier's needs.

According to another embodiment, the present invention can be attached to, or inserted into a standard large ski bag.

According to another embodiment, the present invention enables the skiers to carry the skis in multiple options. The straps used in the present invention enable the ajustig of the carrier accordingt to the person's heigt and weight.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the ski poles can be threaded into the eylets of the back sleeve and tightly fastened by using the small eyelet located on the thin strap.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. The materials, methods, and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings. With specific reference now to the drawings in detail, it is stressed that the particulars shown are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the preferred embodiments of the present invention only, and are presented in order to provide what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the invention in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a description of the main parts of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a description of the back sleeve.

FIG. 3A is a description of the front sleeve.

FIG. 3B is a description of the front sleeve from side perspective.

FIG. 4 is a diagram describing the present invention being installed on a ski gear and poles.

FIG. 5 is a diagram describing the present invention being installed on a ski gear and poles from side perspective.

FIG. 6A is a diagram describing the wheeling the gear by wearing the carrying strap.

FIG. 6B is a diagram illustrating the position of carrying the gear by wearing the carrying strap on the shoulder.

FIG. 7A is a diagram illustrating the carrying of the gear by wearing the carrying strap on the other shoulder.

FIG. 7B is a diagram illustrating the wheeling of the gear by pulling the short strap connected to the front sleeve.

FIG. 8 illustrates all the carrying options.

FIG. 9A illustrates the present invention being installed on a standard large ski bag.

FIG. 9B illustrates the wheeling of a ski gear placed in a large ski bag, using the present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary method of using of the ski carrier while using the wheel device.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary method of using of the ski carrier without using the wheel device

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is of a ski gear carrier, which enables dragging or carrying the skis and the ski poles in various positions. While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

FIG. 1 is an exemplary description of the main parts of the present invention. The ski gear carrier 100 comprises a back sleeve 1 made of flexible or rigid material for holding one end of the ski (or skis); a front sleeve 6, made of flexible or rigid material for holding the other end of the ski (or skis). The front sleeve 6 has a short carrying strap 10 for pooling the gear when wheeling. The front sleeve 6 is preferably wider than the back sleeve, in order to enable the front sleeve to be attached to the front side of the skis, which are, in many cases wider than the back side of the skis. The wider front sleeve enables as well folding of the ski gear carrier 100 into the front sleeve 6. The front sleeve 6 can optionally have a zipper (not shown) for tightening the front sleeve 6 and for adjusting to the ski. When the ski gear carrier 100 is folded into the front sleeve 6, the front sleeve 6 is being used as a small pack, which can be tightened by the zipper (not shown) and can be worn on a belt, for example. The ski gear carrier 100 can optionally have more sleeves (not shown). The ski gear carrier 100 also features an adjustable carrying strap 2 connecting to the two sleeves, for enabling the carrying of the ski gear carrier 100 in various positions. The strap 2 is connected to each of the two sleeves 6 and 1 and enables the adjustment needed according to the carrying position and according to the weight and the height of the person using the ski gear carrier 100. The ski gear carrier 100 also features an adjustable thin strap 4 connecting to the two sleeves 1 and 6, for adjusting the carrier according to the size and shape of the skis for ensuring the tightening of the sleeves to the skis.

The back sleeve 1 features a folded and removable wheel assembly 91, for dragging the skis on the surface. All sleeves feature an adjusting strap, which are shown as 8 and 12, for adjusting the sleeve on the skis. The thin strap 4 also features a small eyelet 5 for tightening the upper side of the poles to the ski gear carrier 100.

FIG. 2 illustrates the back sleeve 1. The back sleeve 1 holds the back side of the skis and features an adjusting strap 8, for adjusting the sleeve on the skis, a pole carrier 7 for holding the lower side of the ski poles, a buckle 9, for connecting the sleeve to the carrying strap and a wheel assembly 91.

FIG. 3A illustrates the front sleeve 6 from the front perspective. The front sleeve 6 holds the front side of the skis and is also used as a pocket for holding the ski gear carrier. The front sleeve 6 comprises a short carrying strap 10 for pulling the gear when wheeling it; zippers 11 and adjustable strap 12 for tightening the sleeve to the ski edge.

FIG. 3B illustrates the front sleeve 6 from the side perspective. The front sleeve 6 comprises short carrying strap 10 for pulling the gear when wheeling it; zippers 11 and adjustable strap 12 for tightening the sleeve to the ski edge.

FIG. 4 is a diagram describing the ski carrier 100 being installed on a ski gear and poles. In the figure: the back sleeve 1 is attached to the back edge of the ski (or edges of the skis) (not shown) and the front sleeve 6 is attached to the front edge of the ski (or edges of the skis) (not shown). The adjustable carrying strap 2 is connected to the two sleeves and is used for enabling the carrying of the ski gear carrier 100 in various positions. The strap 2 is connected to each of the two sleeves 6 and 1 and enables the adjustment needed according to the carrying position and according to the weight and the height of the person using the ski gear carrier. The adjustable thin strap 4 is connected to the two sleeves 1 and 6, for adjusting the carrier according to the size and shape of the skis for ensuring the tightening of the sleeves to the skis. The back sleeve I features a folded and removable wheel assembly 91, for

FIG. 5 is a diagram describing the ski carrier 100 being installed on a ski gear and poles from the side perspective. In the figure: the back sleeve 1 is attached to the back edge of the ski (or edges of the skis) (not shown) and the front sleeve 6 is attached the front edge of the ski (or edges of the skis) (not shown). The adjustable carrying strap 2 is connected to the two sleeves and is used for enabling the carrying of the ski gear carrier 100 in various positions. The strap 2 is connected to each of the two sleeves 6 and 1, and enables the adjustment needed according to the carrying position and according to the weight and the height of the person using the ski gear carrier. The adjustable thin strap 4 (not shown) is connected to the two sleeves 1 and 6, for adjusting the carrier according to the size and shape of the skis for ensuring the tightening of the sleeves to the skis. The back sleeve 1 features a folded and removable wheel device 91, for dragging the skis on the surface. The thin strap 4 also features a small eyelet 5 for tightening the poles to the ski gear carrier.

FIG. 6A illustrates the position of wheeling the ski gear by wearing the carrying strap 2. In the figure, the carrying strap is positioned on the shoulder of the man 20. The skis 21 and poles 23 are bent.

FIG. 6B illustrates the position of carrying the ski gear by wearing the carrying strap on the shoulder. In the figure, the carrying strap 2 is positioned on the shoulder of the man 20. The skis 21 and poles 23 are in horizontal position.

FIG. 7A illustrates the position of carrying the gear by wearing the carrying strap on the other shoulder.

FIG. 7B illustrates the position of wheeling the ski carrier 100 by pulling the short strap, which is connected to the front sleeve. In the figure the skis 21 are bent. The person holds the short strap 10, which is connected to the front sleeve 6.

FIG. 8 illustrates all the carrying options. The option pointed by 13 illustrates the carrying option as shown in FIG. 6A. The option pointed by 14 illustrates the carrying option as shown in FIG. 6B. The option pointed by 15 illustrates the carrying option as shown in FIG. 7A. The option pointed by 16 illustrates the carrying option as shown in FIG. 7B.

FIG. 9A illustrates the ski carrier 100 on a standard large ski bag 25 in airports, train stations and the like.

FIG. 9B illustrates the wheeling of a ski carrier 100 with a large ski bag 25 using the ski carrier 100.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary method of using of the ski carrier with the wheel assembly (device). The present invention is of a ski gear carrier which enables dragging or carrying the skis and the ski poles in various positions. The ski carrier is preferably packed into one of the sleeves (the front sleeve), when it is not in use. In stage 1, the user takes out the back sleeve and straps from the front sleeve which is being used as a packet. In stage 2, the user opens the wheel assembly by pushing the two buttons. In stage 3, the user places the back sleeve over the back edges of the skis. In stage 4, the user places the front sleeve over the front edges of the skis. In stage 5, the user fastens the zippers and the adjustable straps in order to tighten the sleeves to the ski edge. In stage 6, the user connects the thin strap between the sleeves. In stage 7, the user positions the buckle vertically to the thin strap and pulls the strap to the desired length in order to adjust the right length of the straps according to the skis' shape and length. In stage 8, the user places the poles in the pole carrier, as well as adjusting the small eyelet, connected to the thin strap, to the upper side of the poles. In stage 9, the user adjusts the carrying strap length according to the carrying position and according to the weight and the height of the user. In stage 10 the user drags the skis according to the positions described in FIGS. 6A and 7B. In stage 11, when the user no longer needs to drag the skis, the user inserts the back sleeve and the straps into the front sleeve which is being used as a packet, and either connects the packet to the belt, or places the packet within a pocket or a back pack. Alternatively, the user can install the ski carrier on a large ski bag which contains the ski gear as described in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary method of using of the ski carrier without the wheel assembly (device). The present invention is of a ski gear carrier, which enables dragging or carrying the skis and the ski poles in various positions. The ski carrier is preferably packed into one of the sleeves (the front sleeve), when it is not in use. In stage 1, the user takes out the back sleeve and straps from the front sleeve which is being used as a packet. In stage 2, the user places the back sleeve over the back edges of the skis. In stage 3, the user places the front sleeve over the front edges of the skis. In stage 4, the user fastens the zippers and the adjustable straps in order to tighten the sleeves to the ski edge. In stage 5, the user connects the thin strap between the sleeves. In stage 6, the user positions the buckle vertically to the thin strap and pulls the strap to the desired length in order to adjust the right length of the straps according to the skis' shape and length. In stage 7, the user places the poles in the pole carrier, as well as adjusting the small eyelet, connected to the thin strap, to the upper side of the poles. In stage 8, the user adjusts the carrying strap length according to the carrying position and according to the weight and the height of the user. In stage 9, the user carries the skis according to the positions described in FIGS. 6B and 7A. In stage 10, when the user no longer needs to drag the skis, the user inserts the back sleeve and the straps into the front sleeve, which is being used as a packet, and either connects the packet to the belt, or places the packet within a pocket or a backpack. Alternatively, the user can install the ski carrier on a large ski bag which contains the ski gear as described in FIGS. 9A and 9B.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims and includes both combinations and sub combinations of the various features described hereinabove as well as variations and modifications thereof, which would occur to persons skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing description. 

1. A ski gear carrier for carrying skis; comprising: i. a plurality of sleeves for holding each of the two ends of the skis; ii. A strap connecting the two sleeves for preventing the disconnection of said sleeves from the skis, wherein only said strap prevents said disconnection; and iii. A separate carrying strap.
 2. The ski gear carrier of claim 1, further comprising a foldable and removable wheel assembly, featuring at least one wheel, wherein said wheel assembly is attached to at least one of said plurality of said sleeves at one end of said skis.
 3. The ski gear carrier of claim 1, wherein the front sleeve has a short carrying strap for pulling the gear when wheeling the ski gear.
 4. The ski gear carrier of claim 2, wherein said foldable wheel assembly is attached to the back sleeve.
 5. The ski gear carrier of claim 1, wherein said front sleeve is wider then said back sleeve.
 6. The ski gear carrier of claim 1, wherein said front sleeve has one or more zippers for adjusting said front sleeve to the ski.
 7. The ski gear carrier of claim 1, wherein said sleeves are made from a flexible or rigid material.
 8. The ski gear carrier of claim 1 wherein said ski carrier can be inserted to a standard large ski bag.
 9. The ski gear carrier of claim 1 wherein said ski carrier comprises a pole carrier.
 10. The ski gear carrier of claim 1 wherein said ski carrier comprises a long adjustable carrying strap connected to at least two sleeves for carrying the gear on shoulder in a plurality of positions or for wheeling the gear.
 11. The ski gear carrier of claim I wherein said ski carrier can be folded into the front sleeve.
 12. The ski gear carrier of claim 2 wherein when not in use, the wheel assembly folded in horizontally to the back sleeve.
 13. The ski gear carrier of claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of sleeves is elliptically shaped to hold one or more elliptically shaped ski ends. 